Apparatus for treatment of fibers



`Au8 18, 1942- v L. E. LovEQrT 2,293,154

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF FIBERS Filed ont. 21, 1959 fa. Z

. `.rw s no o..

INVENT OR.

ATTORNEY.

iiber. i nately treat theber with an acidydesulphurizing agent, orbleaching agentwith water as awash.

train. I

Patented Aug. 1s, 1942 UNITED ,If-fertili"rE-s"4 orifice j APPARATUSFon. TREATMENT on FIBEns o l Louis E. Lovottrcievelana Heights, ohioAppiioatioo ootobor 21, 1939, serial No. 390.639

i' y(cita-"9) o! liquid. fromstaple bers-moving along a con- 4 Claims.My invention relates to the ,textile industry and more` particularly toapparatus for the in a continuous tion is not necessarily limited to thetreatment` of fibers artificially produced but may also be adapted foruse in' processing natural staple bers. n :n o. I In the manufacture ofstaple fibers from. artificial threads or laments itis necessary thatthefiber ybe treated with certain liquids, for example with acids, water,andbleaching andv de- 4sulphurizing agents. It may be necessary anddesirable to, subject the fiber to an acid bath and then to wash out theacid with water in `another bath before the fiber is subjected to the`treatmentl of another liquid usedin processing the It mayftherefore benecessary to alter- It has been found that a thorough lloodingA of thebers with the appropriate solution'results in a better treatment of theber than thel mere application of .the solution to the surface ofl theber by spraying or otherwise.. j y

Itis an object of my invention to provide apparatus for the treatment oftextile iibers with liquid in a continuous system of manufacture.Another object is to provide apparatus for the treatment of acontinuouslymoving bed of :staple fibers with different'liquids. iAnother object is the provision of a system` of separate compartments.in lwhich `the several treating processes. occur andthrough which thestaple iibers progressively move in continuous lAnother object is theprovison. of `apparatus for' thesuccessive treatment of staple iibersand the' like with several treating liquidswithoutmut'ilatingordegradingthe bers. I o Another object is vthe provi sion.of., a4v `system for they successive treatmentv ora-bed of f, staplebers bypassing them througlfifliquidA baths on a continuous conveyorand/in, Which'nthe. liquid bathsmare separated from'eachiother.

Another object is the provision for' the removal y ,ofliquid from amatted layerofwstaplesmoving veyor at a distance from' the bottom of theconveyor. n

.Another object is the provision of a compart- `nient system for theseparate treatment by liquids -of a continuously moving bed or band ofloose staple iibers. o I i i Another object is theprovisionof'animproved apparatus furthe separation of liquids used in isuccessively treating a `of material.l l

continuous iiow or train Other-objects and a' fuller understanding 7'ofmy invention may be had by referring to the fol# lowing-description andclaims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a cross-sectional view Y taken lengthwise of myappar'atusfand'is largely diagrammatical-in nature;

Figure 2 is a plan'view of the lefthand'half of the apparatus shown inFigure 1, and

" Figure 3 is an enlarged view,par.tially diagrammatical in nature,` ofa portion of my 'apparatus and illustrates the action of 'the floatingroller on the Vbedlofl staples and the squeezerollers between which thestaples pass at an elevation above the conveyor; C f

Referring to Figure 1, I show a continuous conveyor, denoted generallyby the reference character II, which yis of the endless belt type. Theconveyor belt is constructed of woven wire so woven as to support a. bedof'staple bers and `at the same time vto permit liquid .to drain throughthe conveyor belt.` The conveyor belt may'also be constructedgof solidsheets of material perforated with a plurality of `openings to permit`liquid to drain therethrough and at the same time supporting thebed ofstaple iibers on.

the conveyor. 'The conveyor belt has a bottom `portion I2 .with raisedsides I3 extendingl longitudinally along` the longitudinal edges lof thebottom portion I2; The side portions I3 -are preferably `Woven as a partof the belt andare ilexible soas to bendiaround the end pulleys as the:belt moves in its travel. The conveyor belt is adapted vtosupport and'convey a relatively thick bed of loose staple fibers deposited upon thebot- 1 tom portion I2 intermediate the side `'portions I3.

along a conveyor without pressing:ths-fibers Therefis thusaffordedfineffect, a supporting ipanwithout vend walls which can supportlthe vfibers during'pro'cessing and which permits liquid to drainthrough'the' bottom of the "pang Suitable end pulleys I4-Isupport theconveyor belt .and

fuponrotation move .the upper level of the -con- .veyor beltn continuousytravel from the left hand end of the View of Figure 1 toward the righthand' end. Travel of the upper level of the conveyor belt" toward theright of Figure 1. is referred to herein as forward travel and movementof :dbers upon the top of the conveyor toward the right in Figure l isreferred to as a conveying of the fibers forward. Either or both of thepulleys I4 may be connected to a source of power. In the diagrammaticalview .of figure 1 I have illustrated the pulley I4 on .the right endbeing driven by the driving means shown diagrammatically by the dot anddash line 33.

Four spaced supporting rolls I5 are used for supporting the upper levelof theconveyor belt and maintaining it in' alignment. Three spacedsupporting rollers I6 are positioned under the lower level oftheconveyor belt as a means of support. 'I'he rollers I5 and I6 arenotdriven but merely rotate with movement of the conveyor belt. A catchbasin |1 is-positioned under the conveyor for receiving liquids drippingthrough the perforate conveyor belt. The catch basin I1 is divided upinto portions for catching different types of liquidxwhich drain throughdifferent portions of the conveyor. The peaked portions I3 are disposed-to mark the division between the portions ofthe catch basin and therespective liquids ow into the said portions of the catch basin I1. Anoutlet I8 is positioned at the bottom of the sumpof each portion of thecatch basin I1. Liquid flowing out the outlets I3 is conducted to therespective fluid system for each type of liquid and after beingreplenished or regenerated ma'y be used againfor treatment.

An elongated bed `44 of staple fibers is deposited upon the upperportion of the conveyor belt in-` termediate the raised sides I3 andthis elongated bed 44 is continuously moved forward upon operation ofthe conveyor. A filament spinning apparatus shown diagrammatically bythe reference character 31 produces a bundle of filaments 43 which aremoved forward by the rolls 38 driven by the common power source 33. Asuitable cutting mechanism 39,. driven by the common power source 33,cuts the filaments 43 in to suitable staple length, for example one andone-quarter to six inches long, and distributes the cut staples upon theconveyor in the form of a loose bed of staple bers indicated as the bed44. The raised sides confine the bed 44 to the conveyor belt and permita relatively thick bed, for example three or four inches deep, of staplebers to be formed and moved upon the conveyor.

The bed of staples 44 is treated by several liquids during its course oftravel along the conveyor. In the illustration of the drawing, theapplication of three different liquids is shown by way of example. Threepans or liquid c ontainers 34 are positioned above the conveyor belt atthree different locations along the length of the conveyor. Therespective liquid for each container 34 is fed into the top of theconveyor by means of the respective inlet pipes 35. The

inlet pipes 35 are in communication with a source of the appropriateliquid, including the liquid drained out through the outlets I8 of tliecatch basin I1. A plurality of small openings 36 in the bottom of thecontainers 34 sprinkle the `liquid over an extended area above theconveyor belt.

` The liquid falls down upon the bedof staples 44 and floods the staplesso that the staples are completely immersed in the liquid or solutionand thereby become' thoroughly saturated with the liquid. 'I'he staplesupon being flooded in the bath of liquid and partially floating thereinform a relatively thick; expanded and puffed-up layer of staples. Theswollen mass of staples holds a considerable amount of the liquid andexcess liquid passing through the bed 44 is drained off l through theopenings in the conveyor belt. This and to confine each liquid to itsrespective local position along the conveyor. It is desirable to iseparate each bath so that the liquids are not confused but rather aredistinctly separated in liquid bath is confined but through which theelongated` bed of staples moves in a continuous manner.-

Four rollers 2| are disposed transversely of the conveyor andintermediate the raised sides I3 of the conveyor belt. By reason of thefact that external force is not applied to these rollers they are termedfloating rollers. The four floating rollers 2| are spaced from eachother to define three separate divisions or compartments4 along thelength of the conveyor. Each floating roller 2| is journaled upon theends of arms 22 which in turn are journaled upon shafts 26, the arms 22having bearings 25 which freely ride upon a shaft 26. A suitable drivingbelt 24 rotates the floating rollers 2| with the shafts 26. Thearrangement of the floating Irollers 2| upon the arms 22 is such thatthe rollers freely ride upon the top of the bed 44 of staple fibers andmerely the weight of the rollers 2| is effective in comf pressing thebed of staples moving under the rollers 2|. For example, the weight ofeach roller may be five or six pounds and it may be said that thedownward force lof the floating rollers is relatively slight. 'Ihe belt24 driven by the'shafts 26 and in turn powered by the common powersource 33 is ratioed to rotate the floating rollers 2| at a speedrelative to the speed of the conveyor. 'I'he counter-clockwise rotationof the rollers 2| permits the bers to pass freely under the rollers onthe conveyor bottom I2.

By reason of the free riding arrangement -of the floating rollers 2| andthe slight pressure exerted by their own Weight the rollers 2| incooperation with the bed of bers 44 act as a dam to yond the limits ofthe local liquid bath.. At the same time, however, the floating rollers2| permit the bed of staples 44 to pass between the rollers 2| and theconveyor bottom I2. Since the conveyor belt is of woven Wire orv of aperforated sheet it is'important that the bed 44 is not pressed with anyappreciable force against the bottom of the conveyor belt as this tendsto mutilate or degrade the staples. By the very nature of the conveyorbelt having openings for drain'- age it cannot have a smooth continuoussurface. If considerable pressure were exerted upon the bed 44 toforcethe staples down upon the bottom of the conveyor belt the stapleswould be forced into the openings of the'perforate conveyor belt andconsequently torn vor injured during movement ofthe apparatus. Byhaving'. the floating rollers merely ride upon the top of the bed 44Without application of additional force the rollers 2| act as aneffective dam against longituof cotton-`batting.""`

sure as to mutilate or v igagija'tle the staple fibers.

The slightfcompressionzoff'the rollers 2l does,

however; partially matthe bedl of staple's. This partially ,matted bedof "stapleshas sufcient body that it may be handled as" acontin'uousstrip in the further steps of` processing. Roughly,`the f partiallymatted bed may `bej"descrbed as having wetted band or strip- At theterminus of. each liquid bath voompartl nient vthere is positioned apairof mating squeeze *rollsy 21 and.28. Thelower squeeze roll v21 is csuitably `supported and journaled upon, a support' 2,8 and it drivenbythe shaft 28 powered by( the common driviefsr l3- The upper. ,squeezero l l.,28`is 'gearedwto the lowerroll 21 jbyuthe gear driveshownrdiagrammatically by thegreference character 28s, .The squeezerolls 2'! I 28" are``tlierefore,arranged to move andl squeeze materialinterposedtherebetween.4 The x upper' squeezerouzs`is.suitably,supported by a bearing housingndcontaining a coil spring 3|y a` .dapted. to ejxertga downward force upon the Isqueeze roll 28. Asuitable adjustment mechamsm-82 is provided for adjusting thecompression of the coilv spring 8l and thereby the force of the roll 28upon the roll 2|. The external arcuate surfaces of the mating rolls 21and 28 are smooth and continuous. Considerable force may be applied uponthe staples to compress. the same without mutilating or degrading thestaples as there is no tearing action as would result from staplescatching on a rough or perforated sur'- face.

The elongated bed of staple bers moving along the conveyor upon beingpartially matted under the floating rollers 2| is carried upwardly atadistance from the bottom of the conveyor and passes between the squeezerolls 21 and 28. Since l the squeezing is not done upon the relativelyrough bottom of the conveyor belt the excess liquid may be. squeezedfrom the bed of staples without a mutilation or degradationfof thestaples being squeezed. The slightly matted bed of staples upon passingthrough the squeeze rolls 21 and 28 is almost completely extracted andthen again moves downwardly and resumes its place at a forward positionuponithe continuous conveyor to move forward through the next suc,cesslve steps of the manufacturing process. It is tobe `seen in the'largev view of Figure 3 thatthe bed 44, while flooded with liquid in oneof the compartments of `the :apparatus is relatively thick. Upon passingunder the floating roll 2l the bed is partially matted and reduced inthickness and` a restriction is placed,

upon longitudinal flow of the `liquid along the conveyor. The bed of'staples 44 then'moves upwardly away from the conveyor and is theresqueezed between the rolls 21 and 28 wherethe excess liquid is squeezedout and the bed is matted more completely and still further lreduced inthickness. 'I'he matted bed then moves down to its place upon theconveyor at a longiltudinal distance from where it left the conveyor andmoves forward into the next liquid bath Where it again becomes thick andexpanded upon being wetted by the liquid of 'the next successive bath.The leaving of a longitudinal space 3 rolls from v forward into theinext successive compartment. Itis thereforeto be seen that the'apparatus whicl1.`Ihave` invented incorporates-all lof `the advantagesof wet treatments in separatescompartmentsY with alltl'ie ad- -vantagesof a' fcontinu'ous conveyor system',I the same being accomplishedina-mannerto avoid injury tothe staples,beingprocessed., Utilization ofthe apparatus lgreatly incszreases eiliciency ,of the treatment giventostaple fibers andrgives fa result heretofore impossible v with lthe`previous apparatus known; -fj

All of the driven partaof the apparatus are 'driven in unison togiveagsmootnandregulated ilow of materialr1 1thrniglithe rapparatusw-Ihave illustrated in thedrawing the.` severalpants beingdriven-byjacommon,source of power 33 ples from, thelastflset ;of,squeeze' rolls', 21; rand shown diagrammatically yby; the"referencefzcharacter 4l from ,whenqefl 1sdelivered out, through theoutlet 42,.,to the-place of storage' shipment,

or further processingu Although! hayeidescribedfiny. vention with a ycertain degree .ofparticularity,

that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example andthat numerous changes in the' details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for the treatment of con- 'tinuously conveyed liberby thesuccessive subjection of the fiber to different baths of liquid,the combination of V a continuous conveyor for conveying said liberalong a course, said conveyor having a bottom and integral sides tosupport and to coniine the iiber in its movement upon the conveyor, aplurality of liquid feed means forlflooding a plurality of portions,respectively, of said conveyor to treat the fiber thereon, a pluralityof spaced rotatable rollers disposed transversely of said conveyor andpositioned at a terminus ofeach of said portions of the conveyor,positioning means for maintaining said rollers in spaced relationship,said positioning means being adapted to permit said rollers `to freelyride orf said fibers moving along the conveyor, said portions of theconveyor intermediate of'the rollers being open to hold the fiberwithout compression, and driving means for rotating said rollers to aidthe movement of said fibers under the rollers on the conveyor, therelationship of the conveyor, rollers,`liquid feed means, positioningmeans,A and driving means, being such that the said portions of theconveyor intermediate said sides form separate flooded com.- partments,the liquid therein being dammed against flow longitudinal of theconveyor and the fiber moving therethrough is conveyed by said bottom-and sides of the conveyor from one comon the conveyor unoccupied byfibers at each set of squeeze rolls aids in preventing longitudinal flowof liquid between the flooded compartpartment to another undisturbed bymovement of the conveyor sides relative to the conveyor bottom and movedbetween the conveyor and rollers without mutilation or degradation ofthe fibers.

,f 2. In an apparatus `for the treatment of staples with liquid, thecombination of a continuous conveyor having a. bottom portion and raisedside wall portions integrally formed therewith lto form a Ithree-walledcompartment for saidstaples and liquid, said conveyor being formed toitlxisaunderstood permit seepage of liquid therethrough and to permitsaid side Wall portions to iiex with said bottom in its continuouscourse, a pair of spaced `flow of liquid lengthwise of the conveyor toconstitute end walls for said three-walled compartment. a

3. In an apparatus for the treatment of a bed *of staples with liquid,the combination of a woven conveyor having a. bottom portion andintegrally formed side portions constituting a continuous channel inwhich said staples and liquid are contained and moved in a forwarddirection,

av roller positioned Lforwardly in saidv channel of theconveyorintermediate ofthe said side portions,` said` roller being'positionedover said bottom portion of the conveyor and adapted to compress the bedlof staples `and to limit the forward movement of liquid beyond 4saidroller, and driv- /ing means for movingzsaid `conveyor and rotatj, ing4vsaidroller in unison to :forwardlyv advance the bed of staplestherebetween.

4. In an apparatusfor the treatment of stai ples with liquid, thecombination of a foraminate conveyor .belt having a bottom wall and sideWalls integrally formed therein to form an elongated container, saidconveyor belt being adapted to continuously convey and to contain saidstaples` in a layer through said treatment, liquid supply means forflooding a portion of said conveyor belt intermediate of said side wallsto treat the bers thereon, the foraminate conveyor belt permittingexcess liquid to seep therethrough, two spaced rollers positionedbetween said side walls at opposite ends of said flooded portion t0 formend walls for said flooded portion of the conveyor, freely swingablearms having journal bearings provided at the free ends thereof for saidrollers, said swingable arms securing said rollers in said spacedrelationship longitudinally of the conveyor belt and permitting saidrollers to freely ride on said layer of staples, the said rollerspartially compressing said layer, the said rollers and the partiallycompressed layer limiting the longitudinal'flow of liquid beyond saidilooded portion of the conveyor belt, and driving means for moving'saidconveyor belt and rotating said rollers in unison to move said layerbetweenv the conveyor and the rollers at substantially the same speed.

LOUIS E. LOVE'I'I'.

